Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction

Summary:

Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 30 June 2020 - concerning the imposition of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the European Union (EU) and the conditions for lifting such restrictions.

Further information:

The European Council noted in March 2020 the importance of a joint European approach with regard to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. On 16 March, the European Commission adopted a Communication recommending a temporary restriction of non-essential travel from third countries into the European Union. The European Council endorsed the recommendation on the following day. Two follow-up Communications were adopted by the Commission on 8 April and 8 May. In the latter, Member States were invited to prolong travel restrictions until 15 June.

On 5 June, the Council of the European Union discussed the entry restrictions for third country nationals, as well as criteria and measures concerning an eventual gradual lifting. Consensus was reached on need to first lift internal border controls and then follow a unified approach to lifting restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU. The Commission adopted a Communication on 11 June recommending the extension to travel restriction until 30 June and setting out an approach to third country travel into the EU.

The proposal for this Recommendation was tabled by the European Commission on 25 June to operationalise such approach. The Council of the European Union adopted this Recommendation on 30 June 2020. It includes a list of third countries for which residents should be lifted travel restrictions at the external borders - such list was to be updated every two weeks. The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted cover in particular the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including physical distancing, as well as economic and social considerations. They are applied cumulatively.

Official

EUR-Lex: COM(2020)287: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:287:FIN

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 30/06/2020: Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/06/30/council-agrees-to-start-lifting-travel-restrictions-for-residents-of-some-third-countries/

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News

The Guardian, 27/06/2020: EU to restrict most US residents from visiting amid pandemic, reports say https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/26/european-union-us-visitors-coronavirus

The Local, 29/06/2020: EU agrees to reopen borders to 15 countries but excludes US from safe travel list https://www.thelocal.com/20200629/eu-to-allow-visitors-from-14-safe-countries-but-not-the-us

Reuters, 30/06/2020: EU excludes United States from 'safe' travel list https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2410WJ

BBC News, 30/06/2020: Coronavirus: EU to allow in visitors from 15 'safe' countries https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53222356

Deutsche Welle, 30/06/2020: EU agrees to reopen borders to 14 countries, extends travel ban for US tourists https://p.dw.com/p/3eWKx

The New York Times, 30/06/2020: E.U. Formalizes Reopening, Barring Travelers From U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/europe/eu-reopening-blocks-us-travelers.html

Politico, 30/06/2020: EU’s travel safe list emerges from battle for national interests https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-travel-europe-white-list-emerges-from-battle-for-national-interests/

Politico, 30/06/2020: US left out as European Union reopens borders to 15 countries https://www.france24.com/en/20200630-us-left-out-as-european-union-reopens-borders-to-15-countries

Forbes, 30/06/2020: E.U. Confirms: No Europe Travel For U.S. Visitors; Ban Includes Russia, India And Brazil https://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2020/06/30/eu-confirms-no-travel-in-europe-for-us-visitors/#3148c6d54da7

Euronews, 01/07/2020: EU recommends lifting travel restrictions on 15 countries from July 1 https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/29/revealed-draft-list-of-countries-that-will-be-allowed-to-enter-eu-when-borders-open

EurActiv, 30/06/2020: EU lifts travel restrictions for 15 third countries from 1 July, excluding the US https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-lifts-travel-restrictions-for-15-third-countries-from-1-july-excluding-the-us/

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